Victims were also doxed – which is when people research and the broadcast personal information about people on the internet, such as addresses.

Fake bomb threats were also made during the Gamergate campaign – an event run bythe Society of Professional Journalists in August 2015 was forced to evacuate after multiple threats were made.

Death threats to journalists and game developers

British game developer Sean Murray, responsible for the game No Man’s Sky, reported receiving death threats after the release of his game was delayed.

Kotaku game’s journalist Jason Schreier also reported in 2016 that he had received death threats towards him and his family from members of the gaming community after reporting that No Man’s Sky was being delayed.

Meanwhile Kotaku also reported that developers of Call of Duty: Black Ops II received death threats after making changes to a gun in the game.

The fake threat

Richard Hale school has received a bomb threat (Image: Richard Patterson)

Hertfordshire police have now confirmed that the bomb threat received by seven schools across the county was a hoax.

A spokeswoman for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: “We can now confirm that bomb threats made to seven schools in Hertfordshire are being treated as hoaxes.

“Enquiries are continuing and we are working with other police forces across the country, who have schools in their areas that have also received threats, to investigate who is responsible.

“We take hoaxes extremely seriously. They divert police resources and cause disruption and alarm to the public.

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“Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Hertfordshire Constabulary via the non-emergency number 101, quoting ISR 172 of March 19 or report information online at herts.police.uk/report."

The Mirror reports that the threat was sent to schools across England via email, which was written in both English and Arabic.

According to the Mirror, the threat said: “This is a message to everyone. We have sent in a student with a bomb. The bomb is set to go off in 3 hours time. If you do sent $5,000 USD to payments@veltpvp.com